Barker, David Nelson passed away October 26th, 2021 in the loving embrace of his family, as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was a cherished, kind, patient, adored and devoted husband and father, the rock to which our balloons of wishes, dreams and hopes were tied. He was our prince. Dave was born in Rochester, Minnesota, December 10, 1929, the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. Nelson Waite Barker. He graduated from Rochester High School and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow from the Boy Scouts of America. He graduated Dartmouth College (Class of 1951) and was awarded a Masters Degree in Economics and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. Dave retired from the Prudential Insurance Company of America as Vice President of Administrative Services and Regional Comptroller. He was a Chartered Life Underwriter and a member of the Minneapolis Chapter of the CLU. For 25 years Dave taught Economics and Accounting as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Minnesota. In 1978, Dave served in the Carter Administration in the Office of Management and Budget, assisting in the implementation of the Paperwork Reduction Act. Dave contributed to his community at all levels. He tutored young students in the First Grade Reading program at the Nellie Stone Johnson Community School and fulfilled grocery orders for home-bound seniors and disabled individuals as part of the Social Technologies for a Livable Communities Program (now Help at Your Door). He served on a variety of boards and non-profit organizations, and following his retirement, he volunteered at the Management Assistance Program for Non-Profits (MAP) as Director for Board Recruiting. Long an advocate for visually- and hearing-impaired children, he was Chair of the Sensorial Challenged Advisory Committee for School District 287. He also served for several years as Chair of the Employee Division of the Hennepin County United Way. Along with his good friends Peggy Tillit and Lee Harness, Dave founded the Community Involvement Program (CIP), providing services for developmentally-delayed and special needs adults, and those with behavioral health disorders. The program, which began with support from Westminster Presbyterian Church and 11 clients, has grown to serve over 2000 people. Dave served on its board in several capacities for more than 25 years. Dave was dedicated to his faith and to his church. He was a founding member, Elder, and Chairman of both the Pulpit and Building Committees of Peace Presbyterian Church. After joining Westminster Presbyterian Church, he served as an Elder and member of the Board of Trustees, was Chair of the Ministerial Relations and Personnel Committees for fifteen years, served on Presbytery Committees, and was a founding member of the Westminster Counseling Center. Dave and his wife Patricia (Patter) loved to travel and visited every state except Hawaii. They spent part of winters in Arizona and participated in numerous Elder Hostels. They traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. Dave loved his sail boat on Lake Minnetonka, crossword puzzles, brain teasers, puns, bridge, reading voraciously, years of season tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra, and being a spectator for all of the sports he enjoyed. He was a prolific reader, writer and reciter of poetry, and essays. Dave was respected by his family, friends, colleagues at Prudential and in the community for his integrity, kindness, intelligence, humility, willingness to help and contribute, and his dedication to his church and the causes in which he believed. He was always cheerful, had a great sense of humor, was kind and generous. He was proud of his family, urged them to set goals that added to their intellectual development and brought them satisfaction, accomplishment and joy. He was always there for those he loved and they knew they could call on him any time. Dave was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Sylvia Barker Thalman. He is survived by his beloved wife of 67 years, Patricia; his brother Robert Barker; his treasured children, Susan Barker Penk, Dr. Nancy Barker Walczak (Dr. Thaddeus Walczak), Thomas Waite Barker and Dr. Melissa Barker (Stewart Wilson); his much loved seven grandchildren Katherine Penk (Joe Taubert), Jennifer Penk (Aaron Apple), Andrew Penk, Dr. Edward Walczak (Carolina de la Rosa), John Walczak, Kristen Barker Hook (Jeremiah Hook) and Alex Barker; and six great grandchildren. In life he was also especially close to and is survived by Patter's sister Susan B. Sergeant (Jim Sergeant, his best friend, deceased), Patter's brothers Scott and Weston Thiss, and niece Elizabeth Sergeant Bergen and her sons. The family would like to thank both Park Nicollet Hospice Service and the staff at the Gables Care Center at Folkestone Presbyterian Homes for their gentle and compassionate care of Dave during the last days of his time with us. In light of COVID-19 and concern for the well-being of our friends, a memorial service will be private and held at a later time. Should you wish, memorials may be sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Westminster Presbyterian Church or the Park Nicollet Foundation in support of its Hospice Care program.

Published on October 31, 2021